The longer nights and warmer air mean one thing – Crit Racing on a Friday night at HART (451 Mona Vale Road, St Ives) it all commences this Friday 11 of January and we welcome all riders and clubs to be part of the festivities. This is the best way to start your weekend and you can also bring the kids along to our free training sessions while the racing is on.

Riders looking forward to our Friday night crits at HART which commence January 11 and will run weekly until the end of daylight saving. On the night we will cater for Grades A-D and have we run a free training sessions for kids while the racing is on run by one of our qualified coaches.

The HART track is an honest little course with a little pinch every lap. Being car free and a looped course, riders are nearly always in sight and so it makes it a fun spectators race and a great introduction for those new to racing. Spectators are able to sit in the middle of the course which allows them to be there at the finish line and also at the little pinch, making for exciting viewing throughout the race.

Schedule for the Evening

6pm – Sign on opens. NO RIDING ON THE TRACK PRIOR TO 6PM

6:30pm Racing Starts

A Grade 45 minutes plus two laps

B Grade 40 minutes plus two laps

C Grade 35 minutes plus two laps

D Grade 30 minutes plus two laps

Entry is $15 for Race Licence Members. $5 for U/17 riders.

KIDS Training is free and open to all. Training takes place on the skid pan in the middle of the track and commences just before 6:30pm.

This is a great opportunity to take advantage of the current renewals at Cycling Australia

All riders must have a current licence provided by the UCI or Cycling Australia – MTBA and Triathlon Australia licences are not accepted.

What is a criterium? A criterium is a timed race or a certain number of laps. Often completed on a short loop of between 1-2 kilometres, riders complete the set time or laps and the winner is the first over the line after that time or laps completed. It is a good sport for spectators because the riders come past at regular intervals.

Where is HART? 451 Mona Vale Road, St Ives. This is opposite St Ives Showground. There is plenty of parking available at the site, if you wish to drive. Alternatively there are a number of cycling routes to the venue.

How do I enter? Entry is on the day, simply turn up with your licence and a Australian Standards helmet and $15 if you are in Grades A-D.

What time do I have to enter? Entries will open at 6pm before the racing commences at 6:30pm, so riders just need to get there with enough time to enter and pin on a number.

Is this open to all riders and clubs? Yes, this race day is open to all riders and clubs. New riders are welcome, just make sure you have a race licence. We recommend that you choose Manly Warringah as your club of choice when purchasing a licence.

Can I ride the track at other times? No. This is a private venue, that we have hired specifically for this event. It is not opening to cyclists outside of this and our Friday night races. Riders will be able to warm up on the track before their race from 6pm.

How fast or good do I have to be to race? The evening will cater for all standards or riders. If you have no racing experience and are new to riding a bike, then we would recommend D Grade, if you have been riding a while but never raced, then perhaps consider C Grade.

You can always move up or down a grade in your next race if you find your selected grade too hard or too easy. Our sign on officials will also be able to assist you in selecting a grade on the day if you aren’t sure.

What if I can’t keep up? Don’t worry that is racing, if you find yourself off the back, you can continue to ride around or you can join the infield of spectators. The multi loop nature of the course, means you are never far from the start/finish line, so you won’t be stuck out there for hours. Many riders all the way up to elite, will pull the pin early if they find themselves in difficulty, there is no shame in this option.

We look forward to welcoming you on Friday Nights during Daylight Saving to our races. All riders and clubs welcome.